Explorers And Exploration

In a set designed for grades 4-8, some 177 articles and more than 700 full-color illustrations deliver information on explorers and exploration. Most of the alphabetically arranged entries cover people, from Alexander the Great to early Chinese explorer Zhang Quian, but there is also treatment of places (Northwest Passage, Portugal, Underwater exploration); science and technology (Aviation, Dead reckoning, Global Positioning System); and other topics (Caravan, Native peoples, Smithsonian Institution). Chronologically, the set extends from about 500 B.C.E. to 2004.

Entry length ranges from three to eight pages, and each entry is color coded to indicate the period of history to which it belongs. A four-color map or other illustration takes up at least a third of every page, giving the set a vibrant look. Also adding visual interest as well as another dimension of text are sidebars that contain information about relevant technology, brief biographical profiles, quotations, or interesting facts and displays of key dates. All entries have cross-references to other related entries.

The indexes in volume 11 offer several ways of accessing the content. There are three thematic indexes ("Biographical Index," "Geographical Index," and "Index of Scientific Technology"); a general index; and a separate index for maps. Volume 11 also contains a time line, a glossary, and four lists of additional resources: a bibliography, a list of museums and other places to visit, Internet sites, and books and other resources aimed at younger readers.

For a similar audience, The Grolier Student Library of Explorers and Exploration (1997) provides a more thematic context, with each volume devoted to a specific region or aspect of discovery. UXL's Explorers and Discoverers (1994) has information on 200 or so individual explorers. Because these works and the Marshall Cavendish set take different approaches, they complement rather than duplicate each other. Attractive, well organized, and well indexed, Explorers and Exploration is recommended for school and public libraries. It will definitely appeal to its designated audience, and its inviting appearance will encourage even older readers to browse. Mary Ellen Quinn
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Grade 5-9 - This set includes more than 100 biographical entries and 50 topical articles, organized alphabetically. A thematic table of contents in the first volume conveniently groups the explorers geographically and divides the articles into broad categories. Most entries are between two and eight pages long, with plenty of illustrative material. The clearly written text provides solid overviews, along with key dates and details. Biographical sections stick fairly closely to the individuals' lives, while side boxes highlight selected topics. In an article on Ferdinand Magellan, for example, information on the rivalry between Portugal and Spain provides useful context. Quotations from writings and journals also add flavor to some of the articles. Thematic entries examine broad topics such as "Mapmaking," "NASA," and the "Silk Road," along with information on several nations and regions. Emphasis is on the accomplishments of the individuals rather than the impact they had on the societies they "discovered," but the sometimes damaging effects of exploration are touched upon in general sections like "Native Peoples" and within some biographical profiles. Most articles include a colorful map with voyage routes clearly identified when applicable, and all include a time line. Clear, captioned reproductions of portraits, paintings, historical maps, and photographs appear on nearly every page, adding considerable visual appeal. "See also" references at the end of each article and several indexes in the final volume help to synthesize related topics. An effective and accessible resource. - Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR
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